Leica Geosystems’ parent company, Hexagon Group of Sweden, announces the acquisition of Rinex Technology of Perth, Australia. RINEX is one of Australia’s premier precision agriculture companies and an emerging contender in the US, developing and marketing hardware and software for agriculture equipment guidance and automated implement control.

“We have been working with RINEX under a joint development agreement to create advanced products for the precision agriculture market,” says Glenn Clark, Australian business manager for Leica Geosystems. “This acquisition will enable Leica Geosystems to expand its product platform more quickly and offer a wider range of precision agriculture components to work with the mojoRTK.”

In Australia, RINEX has been a premium reseller of the mojoRTK auto-steer system since the product launched early this year.

“Working together as a single company allows us to streamline our sales channel and provide improved support to resellers and customers throughout Australia,” Clark adds.

The first new product resulting from this acquisition will be a full-function colour touch screen that will work directly with Leica Geosystems’ mojoRTK auto-steer system to provide additional functionality including contour and pivot guidance, mapping and record keeping. The screen will be supported via Leica Geosystems’ web-based Virtual Wrench remote diagnostic and support system, and is slated for release in early 2009.

“We are looking forward to continuing our work serving Australia’s farmers with precision agriculture equipment that has been developed over the past 12 years,” says Rob Kiernan, business manager for Rinex Technology. “RINEX has been at the forefront of precision agricultural systems since inception and by becoming part of Leica Geosystems, we gain better access to the global marketplace, and the ability to further expand our product lines by combining the strengths of our Australian based research and development teams.”

In addition to new product development, Leica Geosystems will market and sell the existing RINEX product line, which includes planning and mapping software, data management and the AS7500 auto-section controller that works seamlessly with the mojoRTK auto-steer system and other positioning devices.

Consumers will see a seamless integration of the two companies and will continue to purchase both Leica and RINEX products through existing dealer networks. The Perth based RINEX research and development staff will work in close alignment with Leica Geosystems’ global agricultural research and development headquarters in Brisbane. Field-based RINEX sales managers will continue to represent current RINEX products as well as the mojoRTK platform.